Hanoi deepens ties with Ministry of Foreign Affairs on diplomacy and integration

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi needs stronger international partnerships, global expertise and diversified financial resources to realize its ambition of double-digit growth and a 100-year development vision, said Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc as the city moves to deepen cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ngoc was speaking at a meeting with a Party delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Minister Le Hoai Trung in Hanoi on December 30.

The meeting aimed to further advance Hanoi’s external relations in line with the Politburo’s Resolution 59 on international integration in the new context.

Ngoc said Hanoi has, for many years, signed and implemented cooperation agreements with major international partners, with strong and consistent support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

However, he stressed that the city’s new development phase requires deeper engagement from international partners to meet increasingly ambitious goals.

According to the city’s Party chief, Hanoi currently enjoys favorable policy conditions and has clearly defined development priorities, with science and technology, innovation and digital transformation identified as key growth drivers.

“The capital is also developing a long-term urban plan with a 100-year vision that integrates underground space, low-altitude space and high-altitude space in a multi-center, multi-layer structure that balances cultural preservation with modern and civilized urban growth,” said Ngoc.

In this context, the Hanoi Party chief said the city has a strong need to draw on international experience, particularly from countries and capital cities with advanced planning and design models, as well as access to substantial financial resources and leading experts across key sectors.

He expressed hope that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue to help connect Hanoi with international resources and suitable training channels for human resources.

“The city is making strong efforts to implement multiple strategic objectives simultaneously and stands ready to welcome international partners,” Ngoc stressed.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung praised Hanoi’s proactive approach in working with his ministry to develop a formal cooperation framework toward shared national goals.

He highlighted the city’s recent achievements, especially in socio-economic development, innovation and digital transformation.

Trung commended Hanoi’s active and responsible role in foreign affairs and expressed appreciation for the city’s support for national diplomatic activities.

“The ministry had carefully prepared for the signing of the cooperation agreement, which includes detailed task assignments and a clear implementation roadmap for 2026 and through 2030,” said Trung.

Trung said that units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam’s overseas representative missions would work closely with Hanoi to effectively implement the signed commitments, helping the capital remain at the forefront of development so that residents benefit and other localities can draw lessons from Hanoi’s experience.

“The success of Hanoi is the success of the entire country and also the success of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said, while expressing hope for continued support from the capital in national foreign affairs activities.

At the meeting, Hanoi Party Secretary Nguyen Duy Ngoc and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung signed a cooperation regulation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Party Committee and the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2026-2030 period.

The regulation sets out the principles, scope and responsibilities for coordination in leading and directing diplomacy and international integration, with a focus on the three pillars of Vietnam’s external relations, including Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy.

It also covers cooperation in economic diplomacy, science and technology, innovation, smart urban planning and development, cultural diplomacy and overseas Vietnamese affairs, all aligned with Hanoi’s long-term development objectives.

The cooperation will be in line with major central resolutions, particularly Resolution 59, while mobilizing resources to realize core national integration goals and translate national foreign policy into concrete action at the city level.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in research, forecasting and strategic advice on regional and global trends, information exchange on governance and administrative reform, the organization of high-level external activities, international events, overseas offices, investment promotion missions and the management of international conferences in Hanoi.

The cooperation framework also prioritizes economic diplomacy, science and technology diplomacy and innovation to attract high-quality foreign direct investment, core technology projects and sustainable green transformation, while leveraging Vietnam’s overseas missions to expand markets and promote Hanoi’s key products and strengths.

Cultural diplomacy, external communication and promotion of Hanoi’s identity as a “City of Culture, Civilization, Modernity and Happiness” will also be strengthened, alongside joint efforts to train foreign affairs personnel and raise awareness of international integration across city agencies.

Attending the meeting were Nguyen Manh Cuong, a member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs; along with deputy ministers Nguyen Minh Vu, Dang Hoang Giang, Le Anh Tuan, Ngo Le Van and Nguyen Minh Hang and representatives of units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the Hanoi side were Vu Dai Thang, a member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee; Nguyen Van Phong, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Phung Thi Hong Ha, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council; Nguyen Trong Dong, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, together with members of the Standing Board of the Hanoi Party Committee and leaders of the municipal People’s Council, People’s Committee and city departments.